The Bounty Hunter's Bride (20 page)

“No, you don’t.” He sounded as hoarse as a mule skinner. “I’d stay if I could. I’d do a lot of things.”

“I’m sorry,” she replied. “I wish I could make things easy for you.”

“I feel the same for you.”

Either one of them could have ended the standoff, but at what cost? If Dani sacrificed her integrity, she’d stop being the honest woman he loved. Beau could let Clay live, but he’d still be consumed by bitterness. He couldn’t change his own heart. He didn’t have that ability.

No, but God did. Beau heard the voice in his head. He knew God’s ways. He also had Clay Johnson’s bullet in his pocket. It promised finality, the only kind Beau trusted. He saw the choice as plain as day. He could put his faith in God or in a brass casing filled with gunpowder. Of the two, gunpowder was more reliable.

“Let’s go home,” he said to Dani’s back.

She squared her shoulders, then gave him a sad smile. “You can always change your mind.”

“So can you.”

He followed her to the house, walking in the dark because God had hidden the moon.

“W
hen will we know about the adoption?”

Emma had asked the question, but all three girls looked up at Dani from across the kitchen table. They were making cottage cheese the way Dani had made it a thousand times, the way her mother had taught her. Yesterday she had clabbered the milk. Today she and the girls were squeezing the whey and adding salt to taste. She’d serve it with tonight’s supper.

Emma looked at Dani expectantly. The question deserved an answer, but Dani didn’t have one. She kept her voice mild. “Mr. Scott’s working on papers for the judge.”

The girls didn’t know anything about Harriet Lange or Beau’s marriage proposal. Earlier she and Beau had explained that Mr. Scott had to write up a contract to make the adoption permanent, and that a judge had to approve it. They didn’t mention Harriet Lange’s threats to fight in court.

Emma squeezed the cheesecloth. Whey dripped into a bowl. “It’s taking a long time.”

“Too long,” Ellie added.

“I think so, too,” Dani said. “But it can’t be helped.”

Had she just lied? Last night she’d refused Beau’s offer. They could have been married today if she’d compromised. Dani didn’t doubt her decision, but she feared the consequences. Last night, lying in the dark, she imagined Harriet Lange slapping Emma.

“Dani?” Esther sounded older. She hadn’t sucked her thumb in days.

“What is it, sweetie?”

“I’m scared the judge will say no.”

“Me, too,” she answered. “We have to trust the Lord to know what’s best.”

The girls had grown up with prayers and Bible stories. They knew Jesus for themselves. With time, their faith would grow. Dani hoped to help them down that path. No matter what happened, she wouldn’t waver or doubt. Life, she decided, was like the curds she’d spread in a pan. Yesterday they’d been raw milk, but heat and time had turned them into something even better. She was trusting God for the same miracle in her life.

Did I make the right choice, Lord?

She thought of her favorite Psalm and the sparrows that had a nest for themselves. She wanted a nest of her own, a home with children and Beau for a husband. Last night she’d helped him with the milking. Over and over, she’d hummed “Amazing Grace.” When they’d finished, Beau had muttered something about grace being wasted on Clay Johnson and had left the barn.

Dani finished covering the tray of curds and set it aside. A knock on the front door startled all four of them. Praying Trevor Scott had come with good news, she wiped her hands on her apron. “I’ll get it,” she said to the girls.

As she stepped into the front room, she craned her neck to see through the window into the yard. She saw a horse and buggy with a driver, a well-dressed man she didn’t recognize. She thought of calling for Beau, but he and Howie were repairing the fence on the far side of the meadow. Dani opened the door and saw an old woman in a gray traveling suit. She stood five feet tall and had pretty white hair. Dani was a regular at church now and had been invited to join a sewing circle. The woman at her door, with her round face and dainty nose, seemed familiar. Perhaps she’d come with another invitation.

Dani smiled. “May I help you?”

“I believe you can,” she said sweetly. “Is this the Morgan farm?”

“Yes, it is.”

“I’m Harriet Lange.”

Dani had expected the girls’ aunt to be a crone. This woman had laugh wrinkles and twinkling eyes. Slightly plump, she had the pillowy softness of a grandmother. Dani felt sick inside. What right did she have to deny this woman her nieces? None, but appearances could be deceiving. Dani glanced at the woman’s hands and saw fancy gloves. Did the silk cover fingers capable of a tender touch or a hand that would hurt a child?

“I’ve taken you by surprise,” the woman said gently. “May I come in?”

“Of course.” Dani wished she had on a better dress. She opened the door and motioned for Miss Lange to step into the front room. “We were just making cottage cheese. If you’d give me a minute—”

“Of course.” The woman scanned the room.

“Please, sit down.” Dani motioned to the divan, but Miss Lange walked to the hutch displaying Beth’s collection of teacups. The girls, especially Emma, treasured the reminders of their mother.

The older woman picked up a cup with a silver rim. “I gave this to Beth when she married Patrick.”

Dani didn’t know what to say. “It’s lovely.”

“So was my niece.”

She’d clipped her words. Dani heard a hint of bitterness and wished she knew more about Beth’s side of the family.

Miss Lange set the cup back in place. “I’d like to see my nieces.”

“I’ll get them.” Dani hurried to the kitchen where the girls stood by the door, frozen like scared rabbits.

“Your Aunt Harriet is here.” She focused on Emma. “Go get Uncle Beau.”

Emma ran out the door. With Ellie and Esther hovering at her side, Dani filled the teakettle, smoothed her hair and looked out the window to the spot where Patrick and Beth lay side by side. She no longer loved him, but she wondered what he and Beth would want for their children. Beau had a piece of paper on his side, but Miss Lange seemed genuinely concerned. She’d taken a long train trip, one that had to be expensive and tiring. Dani’s own happiness hinged on the adoption, but she couldn’t think about herself. Only the girls mattered now.

Aware that Esther had put her thumb in her mouth, Dani said a silent prayer.
You know what’s best, Lord. Your will be done.

She poured two cups of tea, set them on a tray with milk, sugar and a plate of cookies. She picked it up and turned to the girls. “I’ll be with you.”

Ellie shook her head. “I want to wait for Emma.”

“Me, too,” said Esther.

Dani saw no reason to force them. She carried the tray into the front room and set it on the table. Miss Lange smiled her thanks, sipped, then looked carefully at the sugar bowl. “That belonged to my mother.”

So much history…If Dani kept the girls, the details of their family heritage would be lost. Was adopting them wrong after all? Had God stopped her from marrying Beau because these children belonged in Minnesota, surrounded by their mother’s family?

Miss Lange peered through the doorway. “I heard you speaking to my nieces. Where are they?”

“Waiting for Emma.”

“Posh!” said Miss Lange. “Girls, come out here this instant. I want to see you.”

Dani bristled. She used a gentler tone when she called the cows. Hoping to reassure two frightened children, she made her voice friendly. “It’s okay. Come and sit with us.”

They walked into the front room side by side. Ellie’s pinafore had a blotch of whey from squeezing the curds, but at least she had on a dress instead of coveralls. Esther, wide-eyed and frightened, saw her aunt and jammed her thumb in her mouth.

Miss Lange huffed. “Child, take your
thumb
out of your
mouth
right now. For goodness’ sake, you’ll give yourself buckteeth!”

Esther whimpered. Ellie put her arm around her sister’s shoulder. Holding tight, she looked to Dani for help.

“Miss Lange—”

“That child needs discipline,” she said. “If you smack her hand, she’ll stop that bad habit. Mark my words, Miss Baxter. Spare the rod and spoil the child.”

Beneath Miss Lange’s silk gloves, Dani felt sure she’d see gnarled fingers that would slap a child at will. She wanted to throw the woman out of the house, but losing her temper wouldn’t help the children. Dani shot Ellie a look that promised she’d fight, then faced Miss Lange. “The girls have had a difficult time.”

“That’s no excuse for sloppy behavior.” Miss Lange sounded almost cheerful. She focused again on her nieces.

“Our little thumb-sucker must be Esther. You must be Eleanor.”

“I’m Ellie.”

“That’s a silly name,” Miss Lange said. “Eleanor suits you.”

It didn’t suit the tomboy Dani knew.

Miss Lange looked the child up and down. “Your pinafore has a stain. Perhaps you’d like to go upstairs and change?”

Ellie’s eyes glinted. “Yes, ma’am. I would.”

“You’re excused.”

Esther, clinging to her sister’s hand, turned to follow Ellie upstairs. Miss Lange huffed. “Esther, you’re a big girl now. Let go of your sister’s hand.”

Esther did as she’d been told, but her lower lip trembled. As Ellie turned to argue, Dani caught her eye and motioned for her to go upstairs alone. She hurried to Esther, hugged her and told her she could sit with the grown-ups and have a cookie.

“Really?” Esther asked.

“You sure can.”

No way would Dani allow Miss Lange to pick on a frightened five-year-old. She led Esther to the divan and gave her the treat. Dani didn’t believe in bribing children for good behavior, but Esther needed a distraction. When they sat, Esther climbed on Dani’s lap. The child’s weight numbed her legs, but she let her cuddle.

Harriet Lange arched her brows. They looked like gray worms. “Miss Baxter, you’re spoiling these girls.”

“I disagree.”

The woman harrumphed. “Of course, you do. You’re a child yourself.”

“I’m twenty-two.”

“You’re barely older than Emma.”

Dani had heard enough. “Why are you here, Miss Lange?”

“To take custody. You have no claim to these children. As for Mr. Morgan, he’s not fit to raise them.”

“You don’t know him,” Dani countered. “You don’t know
me,
either.”

“I know that children need a firm hand.”

Ellie’s footsteps pounded down the stairs. She walked into the front room wearing coveralls and boots.

Miss Lange gasped. Before Dani realized what she intended to do, the woman marched up to Ellie and raised her hand. “Why you disrespectful—”

“Stop!” Dani plopped Esther on the divan and ran to Ellie, who had already jumped back.

Miss Lange stayed still.

Gripping Ellie’s shoulders, Dani glared at the older woman. “You can’t have these children, Miss Lange. You’re not fit to raise them.”

The old lady turned and arched one brow at Dani. “And
you
are?”

“Yes.”

“You’re no more qualified than I am, Miss Baxter. You’re a single woman. So am I. I have the wisdom that comes with age. What do
you
have?”

Dani had what mattered most. She had a heart full of love and the faith to believe God would see them through this hard time. She flashed on the girls seated at the supper table, smiling and feeling safe. She saw herself at one end, loving them as her daughters. She also saw an empty chair at the head of the table, Beau’s place if he chose to fill it. Dani would do anything—give up her dreams, live with that empty chair—to protect the girls from Harriet Lange. Her heart ached with the sacrifice she was about to make, but it had to be done.

She raised her chin. “I can give the girls a real home. Mr. Morgan and I are getting married.”

Ellie gasped. “Really?”

“Yes.” Dani smoothed the child’s hair. She and Beau would be married in the eyes of the law and Harriet Lange. Someday, if he made peace with himself and Clay Johnson, they’d be married in the eyes of God.

Miss Lange narrowed her eyes. “When is the wedding?”

“As soon as we can arrange it.”

“This is rather sudden, isn’t it?”

Dani said nothing.

The woman’s eyes glimmered with suspicion. “Is this marriage legitimate, Miss Baxter? Or is it a scheme to hold on to the life you expected from Patrick?”

Dani’s cheeks flushed red. She couldn’t lie, but neither would she hand this woman a weapon to be used against her. She sealed her lips.

“I see,” said Miss Lange.

The back door opened and slammed shut. Dani looked down the hallway where she saw Beau pacing like a man on fire. His gaze shifted from Harriet Lange to Ellie and finally to Dani. “What’s going on?”

“I told Miss Lange about our engagement.”

Beau put the pieces together in an instant. He’d already seen the buggy and the Pinkerton’s agent. Miss Lange, it seemed, had come to make threats and Dani had protected the girls with the only weapon she had. She’d sacrificed herself, her dreams and her hope for a real marriage. Her goodness shamed him. Spoiling for a fight, he looked at Harriet Lange. She seemed mild enough in her gray frock, but he didn’t like the set of her mouth. The lawman in him sensed trouble.

“Good afternoon, Miss Lange. I’m Beau Morgan.”

“I know who you are, sir.”

“Why are you here?”

“To take my nieces, of course.”

“I have custody.”

Her cheeks turned pinker. “May I remind you, Mr. Morgan. Your attorney approached
me.
He made it clear that you wished to return to your
business
as soon as possible. He offered me money—a goodly sum—if I’d take all three girls.”